How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you're experiencing many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be racing or pounding. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could point to a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. window doctors near me monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes of the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.